by Brian Mitchell and Joseph Nixon

The premiere of a new musical by Brian Mitchell and Joseph Nixon will open at the Mercury Theatre Colchester on Friday 25 October and will run until Saturday 9 November.

In the cast are Mel Giedroyc, David Mounfield, Daniel Boys, Julie Atherton, Justin Edwards, Ben Stratton and Stacey Ghent. It is directed by Mercury Artistic Director Daniel Buckroyd, with design by Sara Perks, lighting by Philip Gladwell, and sound by Tom Lishman. The Musical Director is Tom Kelly and Musical Supervisor is Richard Reeday. This is a Mercury Theatre Colchester and Derby Theatre co-production. The Opinion Makers will be at Derby Theatre from Wednesday 13 to Sat 23 November 2013.

When the utterly incompetent team at Fernsby Market Research find themselves facing the stiffest challenge of their professional lives - to report what the British Public really think of world famous 'Doctor Campbell's Lotion' in readiness for a re-launch - there's only one thing for it; make it all up! After all, that's what market research companies do, isn't it? The 16 musical numbers include 'Doctor Campbell's Lotion', 'Two Prat Invention', and 'Can't Rely on Your Neighbours'.

Mel Giedroyc has been a regular presenter on BBC's 'The Great British Bake-Off'. Earlier this year she was in the BBC's series 'Spies of Warsaw' with David Tennant and Tuppence Middleton. She played Miss Hardup in 'Cinderella' at the Lyric Hammersmith last Christmas in which Julie Atherton was Cinderella. Julie Atherton has recently been in the sell out season of Howard Goodall's and Melvyn Bragg's 'The Hired Man'. Daniel Boys' roles include in 'The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber', 'Avenue Q' and 'Peter Pan The Musical'. Justin Edwards was the host of ITV's 'Chatshow Roulette' where guests included Matt Lucas and Rebecca Front. He has also appeared in 'The Thick of It'. David Mounfield was Big Daddy in 'Big Daddy vs Giant Haystacks' written by Brian Mitchell and Joseph Nixon at Assembly Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. Daniel Buckroyd directed 'These Magnificent Men' which Brian and Joseph also wrote and which has had two UK tours and was at Edinburgh in 2011. The Opinion Makers was originally developed by New Perspectives Theatre Company.